UW poll: Nickels first, bag tax down

A University of Washington poll shows that incumbent Greg Nickels is leading in a crowded race for Seattle mayor.

Several other candidates are bunched close together with two weeks to go before the mail-in primary deadline.

The poll of 600 registered voters in Seattle also showed that a proposal to impose a 20-cent fee on paper and plastic bags is opposed by a majority of citizens, and that the Alaskan Way Viaduct is their No. 1 concern.

The primary deadline is Aug. 18, with ballots arriving at voters’ homes early this week. When the UW questioned voters July 28 through Aug. 3, Nickels was the first choice for mayor with 23 percent.

But it’s not all good news for Nickels. Fifty percent of voters have an unfavorable impression of him; 40 percent have a favorable impression.

On the bag tax, 55 percent of those questioned said they were opposed and 41 percent said they favored it. Perhaps that not surprising given that the economy and taxes were listed among voters top concerns.

Asked to list and rank the most important issues facing Seattle, respondents said:

1. The Alaskan Way Viaduct.

2. General transportation issues.

3. Jobs and the economy.

4. Taxes.

5. Schools and education.

The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.